Tommorow I am hoping to have some new information on the NAR Green Designation. I will blog on it just as soon as I have a few answers. Their is good news, enough people have let me know they are just as concerned. So my question is simple and I want to hear from every one on this. Do you feel greenwashing is just as relavant as housing fraud was? And if so what role does NAR or EcoBroker play?
Thanks for the update Tony. Interesting question on the Green Washing. I am not sure that Green Washing is in the same category as housing fraud, but I would hope a well informed Ecobroker or NAR designated agent would be able to explain what attributes are truly green.
I don't personally think a designation is necessary for an agent to be well informed, etc. My preference would be a local course sponsored by our local board and maybe one of the Green Builders as a participant and a lender who knows the energy star programs. Sometimes designations are overdone. One good example is the E-Pro. I paid for that, began the on line course and discovered I was way beyond what they were doing with computers and on line. I was bored out of my mind with that course. I did not finish it and unless you are a computer novice, don't waste your time or money.
Just as with degrees, designations can help show that someone has undergone education and that can be helpful, but it doesn't *always* mean that person is more knowledgeable. It's a little of a catch-22 but it's the system we have. I have a BA and an MA (most of a PhD as well actually) so while I feel there is value there, I do understand that not everyone fulfills the implication of what those letters are supposed to mean.
That said, not only am I on my way to get a new designation by the end of this week, I have just sat through some continuing education on Green building. Designation or not, I am interested in real knowledge I can help clients with.
I don't think that greenwashing is going to be anything close to the trouble that housing fraud is/was. I find that most consumers who are interested in being greener are smart...I would think they can tell if their agent is only jumping on the green bandwagon or not.
YES, I do think Greenwashing is a problem. The real problem is how it dilutes the efforts of the legitimate organizations and the public begins to put out a deaf ear to ALL because of it.
YES, I do think Greenwashing is a problem. The real problem is how it dilutes the efforts of the legitimate organizations and the public begins to put out a deaf ear to ALL because of it.
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